Minneapolis Police leader sues Liz Collin, Alpha News over defamation claims in George Floyd case

Katie Blackwell, a high-ranking officer in the Minneapolis Police Department, has filed a defamation lawsuit against media figure Liz Collin and conservative outlet Alpha News, alleging they distorted her testimony in both a film and book.

The lawsuit, filed on October 16, claims that statements made in Collin’s film The Fall of Minneapolis and the book They’re Lying have damaged Blackwell’s reputation and “clouded Blackwell’s career.”

At the heart of the lawsuit are Collin’s claims that Blackwell, who served as a key witness in the murder trials of former officer Derek Chauvin and others, lied about the training Minneapolis officers received. Blackwell’s testimony was pivotal in securing Chauvin’s conviction for the murder of George Floyd, and she has firmly stated that the restraint Chauvin used to kill Floyd was not part of police training.

Chris Madel, attorney for Collin and the other defendants, dismissed the lawsuit, calling it “garbage” and stating, “Garbage belongs in the trash.”

Blackwell, who currently serves as assistant chief of operations, argues that the film and book wrongly imply she was untruthful, particularly around the department’s training on the maximal restraint technique. The lawsuit contends that deceptive editing in the film misrepresents Blackwell’s testimony and fuels false claims about her integrity.

“Katie Blackwell was one of several Minneapolis Police officers who did the right thing. She told the truth,” Chief Brian O’Hara said in defense of Blackwell, praising her integrity and leadership during the trials and in her current role.

As the lawsuit unfolds, it highlights the continued scrutiny of media coverage surrounding the death of George Floyd and the legal battles it continues to spark.